Chess Puzzle #42l0m — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen f5; rook e1; bishop h2; knight e6; pawns a4/g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen e7; rooks d7/h8; bishops b7/g7; pawns c5/e2. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf6 — queen e7→f6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc5+ — queen f5→c5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bc6 (bishop b7→c6).
3. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen c5→c6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rc7 (rook d7→c7).
4. Best move: Qxc7# — queen c6→c7, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

exposed king, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame. The combination ends with Qxc7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/1b1rq1b1/4N3/2p2Q2/P7/7P/4p1PB/2K1R3 b - - 1 32

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